Reiki energy healing and other holistic topics

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Deep breaths. Just take one with me, slowly breathe in then out. Letting your shoulders drop and your mind focus on nothing but your breathing. There, a little better? I hope so! Studies have shown that if you take deep breaths your body is forced to relax so take a few deep breaths each hour and consciously let go of any tension you’re holding onto.

And there’s a LOT of tension and strain happening in our world right now. The news is getting more and more upsetting with mass shootings, natural disasters, scandalous behaviors, the threat of war and troubling politics. On the surface this can be overwhelming. What’s really happening on a deeper level is that these lower, fear-based energies are no longer compatible with the higher frequency of love and are getting exposed. Lights are shining on them, making people aware of their own fears and deep rooted issues. And why is that? Because it’s finally time to release! No longer are we to be ruled by fear, those days are over. No longer is there negativity hiding in the shadows because there are no more dark spaces left to hide.

Going through the Birth Canal

We are moving collectively (albeit painfully and traumatically), towards a new level of self-awareness both as individuals and as a global society. We’re going through a birthing process of sorts and we’re in the height of labor which amounts to a lot of pain and fear but with an outlook of excitement, hope and love. That’s what we need to focus on, getting past the birthing canal and into our mother’s arms feeling safe, loved and utterly at peace.

Taking back your Power

Fear brings with it a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. We feel dis-empowered to be able to fix things or make things better. This is a falsehood. Fear is only allowed to take root if you let it. Fear is important for our flight or fight response but it should not rule our lives and keep us feeling ‘less than’, afraid or victimized.

Do not allow fear to take hold for it is fleeting but spreads like a virus. Instead, when you find something that disturbs or troubles you, take positive action towards it. Lean into your fear, understand it. What makes you feel uneasy about the situation? Is there anything you can do right now to bring yourself peace and take back your power? Here’s some helpful tips I’ve used and shared with my clients on how to squelch fear:

Turn off altogether or limit the news you intake (quick 5 min. bites for the day to stay informed then turn it off!).

Remove the negative ninnies from your life. This can come from family, friends, Facebook, co-workers, roommates, etc. If anything or anyone makes you feel fearful or negative or ‘less-than’ then it’s probably time to distance yourself from it/them.

Find what brings you peace and keep that like a tool you keep in your front pocket for emergencies. This can be deep breathing like we did at the beginning of this article, being out in nature, saying a prayer, doing Reiki, yoga or other meditative exercises, taking a walk, talking with a friend, holding a baby, petting your cat. Whatever it is, have that as your go to when you feel fear creeping in. Try to find something that you can access and do immediately at any time of day or night. And if you can’t physically do something that brings you peace then mentally think about that activity and go through the motions in your mind, it will have the same effect.

Take positive action towards something that you truly believe will make the world a better place. If you have a need to support an organization, give of your time and/or money. If you are a Reiki practitioner, write all the things that you want to see in the world such as peace, love and understanding onto a piece of paper, turn on your Reiki hands and sit with the paper in between your hands. You can do this while watching TV, it doesn’t take much effort! You can send out a prayer, a quick text/Facebook or Twitter post or a mental image of something that you’d like to see happen in the world. Whatever you feel compelled to do, first check whether or not this action will bring you peace and if it is coming from a place of love. If it’s coming from a place of fear, then leave it for now until you can find a way to approach it from a heart-centered space.

Find what gives you strength whether it’s something that you’ve already accomplished in your past or something that you pride yourself with in the present. We’ve all been through difficult times and look, we’re still here! What doesn’t break us makes us stronger, right? Well only if we choose to. We can choose to be victims of our circumstances or we can choose to rise above them and allow that experience to make us stronger and shore up our inner power. Being victimized is not a choice, but remaining a victim is.

The long and the short of it is this: what’s happening in the world right now is part of a process that will help us evolve and grow from a place of fear to a place of love. New laws will be enacted, justice will be served, politicians will be held accountable, Mother Earth will be protected, peace and level heads will prevail, animals will be respected and protected as we become more aware of our connection to each other and with Mother Earth.

There comes a point in everyone’s spiritual path where we need to look to own inner guru for answers. We all seek guidance external from ourselves from time to time, from experts in a particular field or friends that we know and trust. Ultimately, when it’s all said and done, the only one who can truly answer your questions is you. Why is that? Because only you know your truth.

Think back on a time when you received advice from an ‘expert’ be it a medical doctor or a therapist or a spiritual adviser or a friend. Did you feel that they weren’t quite hitting the mark? That maybe they were missing something because deep down you knew the answer lied in a different direction? And when you did receive the advice that was right for you did you feel as if bells went off within you signaling that yes, this is right for you? That’s because you’ve always known what path you’ve needed to take. Only you know what feels right, what resonates with you and what doesn’t.

Frequently I have clients that come in for a Reiki session or an Angel Card Reading and ask for guidance on career, health, relationships or other significant areas of their life. They look to me or to Reiki or Angels to answer all of their questions. Guess what, we can’t. Only you can do that. We can highlight areas to explore, point in a particular direction, give you some breadcrumbs to follow but ultimately, the answers you seek always lie within. I know, frustrating, isn’t it?

But think about it this way, you have your own, walking, talking guru built right inside you. You don’t need to spend a ton of money to get other people’s input because deep down you know what feels right for you. In almost every Angel Card reading I do the cards point the client towards doing inner work, meditation, spending time in nature, quieting the mind so that the soul can flourish allowing clarity to come. This can be challenging for the client to hear because they want someone else to tell them what to do. Where’s the fun in that? Think about your free will, would God, Angels, etc. respect your free will if they were to constantly give you all the answers you seek? Where’s the joy in learning your path, discovering your own truth, falling and picking yourself back up again?

So how do we listen to our inner guru?

This does require some practice. First get to know what feels right for you and what doesn’t. Certain people, places, environments, foods, etc. – learn what feels right for your soul, what makes you happy and what makes you want to run and hide. Start to get in touch with your inner guidance. If it’s something that doesn’t resonate with you it can feel like a gut-punch, anxiety or a need to escape. If it feels right then you’ll be at peace and never want to leave. It’s also important to distinguish between your own anxieties and those of others. See my Getting Out From Under The World and Feeling Anxious Lately? articles for details.

Secondly, meditate on your third eye chakra. The third eye chakra houses our ability to see things clearly and is located above and between our eyebrows. This is also where our psychic senses can become unlocked, i.e., clairvoyance, clairaudio, claircognizance, clairsentience. This eye sees the truth in all things and contrary to art depictions, this eye doesn’t look out into the world, it actually faces us and looks within. Because in truth, all the answers we seek lie within. Meditate on an eye shape a few inches away from you in front of your forehead area and slowly envision this eye opening up to show a beautiful cobalt blue iris looking back at you. You’ll be amazed at the clarity that follows.

Have you been feeling a bit ‘on-edge’ lately? Unable to sleep or focus? Are you finding that your internal plumbing ain’t working quite right? How about a sudden ringing in the ears? Or how about this one; the need to jump out of your skin and take off? If you experienced one or more of these you are not alone!

Many of my clients have been reporting high anxiety to the point of panic attacks since, guess, …… go on, I’ll wait ….. yes, you got it, late January of this year. Hmm….I wonder what happened around that time? Oh yes, the inauguration! Regardless of your politics or who you voted for we’re all experiencing a communal panic attack of sorts. There are feelings of fear, uncertainty and loss. You might not have these emotions yourself but I bet you’re feeling the collective emotional soup of everyone else.

In addition to the significant change in our political world, there is a spiritual evolution also taking place at the same time. Some would argue that one spurred on the other. This spiritual evolution or ‘ascension’ as it is more commonly known, is a step forward for human kind. I know it doesn’t feel like we’re evolving, but trust me, we are. This ascension is an awakening of our higher selves, our spirituality, our connection to Source, God, etc. We are shedding our old snakeskin and are going through a re-birthing process where we become more awake, alive and connected to who we truly are. Think of it as if we’re waking up from the Matrix. We’re becoming unplugged from our routines and starting to see life and each other from a higher perspective.

You might begin to experience deep feelings of compassion. You might feel your heart ache when you witness tragedy or warm when you feel overwhelming love. You might have one or more of your psychic ‘clairs’ open up: clairaudience, clairvoyance, claircognizance, clairsentience. You might feel compelled to take action when you weren’t the type to do so before. You see yourself gravitating towards a healthier lifestyle, cutting out certain foods, drinks, people, environments, etc. because they’re just ‘too much’ for you to handle right now. That’s a good thing. You are listening to what your body and spirit need and are making the necessary adjustments.

So why is this this happening now?

Without getting too metaphysical, know that this has been planned for eons. This time, this critical time in our history has been in the works for thousands of years. We’ve been experimenting, seeing what it’s like to live on this beautiful blue planet we call home. We’ve had to lower our vibration in order to exist on this physical plane. We’ve had to ‘descend’ so that we can inhabit our physical bodies. Now the school bell has rung and it’s time to graduate into the next level.

What can I do about it?

Being aware that it’s taking place is a good first step. Knowing that you’re not going crazy, you’re not alone and that this is for your highest and greatest good is a great place to start. Secondly, be gentle with yourself. Know that you are hypersensitive right now so create safe places, boundaries, learn to say no and learn when you need to take breaks and be alone with your thoughts.

If you haven’t already, try some of the steps listed in my previous article on opening up your spirituality. Try to really get in touch with who you are. What makes you tick? Where do your passions lie? What does your soul yearn for? Follow that yearning, even if it’s just baby steps and the universe will match you. Have you been inspired to teach, paint, create, write, sing, dance, shout, run, hike, get back into nature? As Nike says, just do it. Throw caution to the wind, follow your heart and you will never be led astray.

What comes next?

That’s up to all of us. The more we embrace our new higher divine selves the more we evolve as a whole. But it does take every one of us to make that effort. We need to love ourselves and each other deeply. We need to love the planet and all the living things on it. We need to have compassion radiating out of all our pores. We need to step out of our old ways of judgement, anger and fear and step into a new way of seeing the world through eyes of light and love. We’re opening up to new learning, new insight, new awareness beyond what we’ve been able to experience in the past. This is an exciting time, a period of great adjustment that requires more than a handful of patience and a healthy dose of awareness.

Dear Lightworkers, Therapists, Life Coaches, Healing Practitioners and all Lightseekers:

It is time to take our clients to the next step in their development. During a recent meditation it became clear that in order to shed ego, in order for our internal lights to ignite, we need to find something bigger than ourselves to devote our energy. And this evolution must take place and quickly. We are at a pivotal point in our spiritual growth and we need as many lights turned on as possible.

Shifting the Focus

Most of our clients come to us for specific issues that are preventing them from being whole. Whether from an illness or a loss or other tragic event, they seek answers, peace and healing. We have spent valuable time and energy helping them achieve these goals. Now we need to shift our attention and theirs to something bigger, their life purpose. In many occasions their struggles become their own springboards into their divine destiny. For instance, I became a Reiki Master after my mother died of uterine cancer. I took that tragedy and grief and fueled that energy into helping others. And now I am fulfilling my life purpose, helping others heal and witnessing miracles nearly every day.

Getting Through the Tunnel

Find that key theme in their life, that main struggle that keeps reoccurring, that will be a clue into their divine purpose. A phrase I like to use in my practice is, ‘Get through your tunnel then help others through theirs’. For instance, a life-long struggle with addiction can transform a soul into a addiction therapist or counselor helping others through their struggle. Or a long-term illness can transform that person into a healer themselves, helping others through their battles. I ask my clients and students frequently, why do you think this event, illness, tragedy happened to you? What were the life lessons to come of it? How do you feel about it now and can you show others how you got through it? They light up when I suggest they can help others. They need to be shown that they can make a difference in other’s lives, in the environment, in whatever it is they are passionate about. They need to be encouraged, supported and loved. We can do this.

Follow Your Bliss

Over the years I’ve seen a shift as my clients struggle with their identity. On the surface they are holding down good jobs, raising families, in happy relationships but on a deeper level they feel, intuitively, that there is something missing. They know there is something more that they need to be doing with their lives. They feel they are not in complete alignment with their divine purpose. But, they fear change. Fear that they will be thought of or seen differently. Fear that they will not succeed or they are not capable of being the powerful being that they know deep inside they are. This is where we come in. We need to hold the space and allow them to dream and explore and feel safe talking about their divine life purpose. It can start with a simple conversation about what do they love, what they are excited about. You might hear answers like yoga, flowers, my children, the environment, teaching, learning, etc. Talk through that, what does that look like? How can they take it from a dream to a reality?

It Starts in Steps

So many folks get discouraged when they realize that what they aspire to can take a lot more time, effort and money then they currently have available. Start small. Make lists. Prioritize the steps. Have a realistic time frame. For instance, if they are a software engineer but feel called to teach young adults, suggest volunteering at a local high school. Or have them get in touch with the guidance counselor and have an informal conversation about what that might look like. And they don’t have to quit their day job or take time away from their kids, they can be creative, there’s always an hour here or there a week that they can find to set aside for their life purpose. One of the miracles of life is that when we take action towards our life purpose the Universe rises up to meet us and matches that effort. Steps that on the surface may seem insurmountable are achieved in far less time with far less effort than previously thought.

When We Shed the Ego We Become Light

In taking time and energy to focus on their life purpose they can get out of their own head prisons and put forth efforts to better humanity, the environment, the world and the universe at large. When this happens their connection to Source, God, the Universe, their Divine Selves ignites and becomes a stronger, clearer channel. The more deeply connected they are to the Divine, the more they bring that energy here to this plain of existence on Earth.

I encourage you to think of this shift when working with your clients in helping them find their Divine Life’s Purpose. I feel an incredible amount of loving, supportive energy that is ready to embrace all of us on our paths. May you continue to do the loving work that you do and share your own lights with the Universe.

OK – so you want to become more spiritual but, how do you start? There’s a plethora of books, movies, classes, lecturers, conferences, tools, techniques on a slew of topics, so much so that it can leave you feeling dizzy. I’ve culled together my top 10 favorite go-tos, ones that I’ve used myself numerous times and ones that I often refer my clients to. I’ve chosen these based on their ease of use and accessibility – meaning, they’re quick and easy to understand without getting into the super esoteric topics that often leave the seeker more confused then when they started. I would love to hear what you have to say. Please leave your comments and share any other tools that you would add to this list. And now, here’s my top 10, in no particular order:

The Secret: This is a great introduction to the Law of Attraction concepts. It’s easy to follow, a quick watch and told by charismatic leaders from a number of different backgrounds. You can also read the book too if you want more in-depth learning.

What the Bleep Do We Know: Another fascinating movie that talks about how we can create our own reality, how we can become creators of the lives and experiences we want to lead. Again, quick watch by a mix of spiritual teachers, famous scientists and doctors.

You Can Heal Your Life: This movie is based on a best-seller book by Louise Hay, one of the pioneers of self-help and the founder of Hay House Publications (Dr. Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Doreen Virtue’s publisher). It talks in simple terms on how you can heal from anything through self-love. It shows you practical tools like affirmations to help you start your journey of self-discovery and self-love.

Chakra Clearing: This book by Doreen Virtue is a quick, easy read that gives you a basic introduction to Chakras, the body’s energetic systems and how they affect or respond to our overall well-being. The best part of this book is the guided meditations that come with purchase – there’s a morning and an evening Chakra clearing meditation that are absolutely amazing and effective. It helps to unlock your intuition, cut chords from things that are no longer of use and start to step into your true divine self.

Saging: This is a Native American tradition of cleansing. You can purchase a smudge stick (usually made of white sage) from a health food store or a local metaphysical book store. Simply light the sage and let the smoke clear you, your home, work space of any negativity or low frequency energy. As the smoke emanates through your space set the intention of clearing the space of negativity and filling it with light and love. (Setting the intention = literally thinking it or saying it out loud, it’s not more complicated than that.) Make sure you have something underneath it to catch the ash so you don’t leave a trail to clean up afterwards! And be mindful of indoor sprinkler systems – you don’t want to set those off unintentionally!

Meditation: OK, I know, I know, it’s hard! That hamster in the wheel never lets up. Well, try guided meditations first. Listening to someone’s voice will help you focus your mind and keep it from wandering. There’s a slew of great ones out there, Doreen Virtue’s chakra clearing meditation, mentioned above, is fantastic. I’ve put together a few on my YouTube channel, the grounding meditation is the one I send to my clients the most. Meditation is the quickest, if maybe not the easiest, way to reach into your own spirituality. It’s a chance for the ego to take a vacation so you can listen to who you really are at the soul-level and connect to the Divine. For all the answers we seek lie within, we just need to quiet ourselves down to listen.

Yoga: Oh how I love yoga. This is a great way to get your body moving and start connecting your breath with your movements and it’s a great way to honor your body and give it some love. Now, don’t go crazy here. Start slow, don’t push yourself. This isn’t a practice in who can stretch the furthest or who has the most strength, this is all about quieting the mind and allowing your breath and your body to move in harmony. Think of it as a form of moving meditation. Another chance to get the ego to quiet down and to get in touch with how you’re feeling. Then the Shavasana or meditation at the end of the session (which is really the goal of the whole thing) is a lot easier and recharges your battery for the rest of the day. If you have a membership to a local gym, check their classes, they probably already offer one for free. If not, check your local listings and look at the reviews. Start with basic flows vs. classes that focus on strength or endurance.

Hay House Conferences: Hay House Publication puts on great conferences made up of their authors on a variety of self-help topics. This is a great way to get an intro into many different topics that you maybe unaware of. Things like past life regression, self-love, spiritual connection, mediumship and more. I’ve done the I Can Do It conferences a few times, the Writer’s Workshop and the Certified Angel Card Reading Course. I’ve loved them all. There were a few presenters that didn’t resonate with me but the vast majority did. Like with anything, take with you what resonates and leave the rest behind.

Find Your Connection with God: Whatever your religious beliefs or upbringing, it is essential that you develop a healthy relationship with God, Source, the Divine, the Creator, whatever you want to call it that feels right to you. Know that you are part of something bigger, that you’re part of a larger plan and that you’re here for a reason. Know that your soul is eternal and goes from lifetime to lifetime learning lessons, helping to heal, striving to become whole. God is your co-pilot through this journey. Whenever you need guidance, assistance ask God or Jesus or Buddha or Angels or other Ascended Masters for help and look for signs that your prayers have been answered. The Divine always respects our free will so intervention will not occur unless we ask. Prayers are a great way to start building that relationship with the Divine.

And last but not least, I would encourage you to pick up a copy of my book: Why Are You Sick? Going Beyond Symptoms to the Root Cause. I know, I know, this looks like a shameful plug, but I assure you, it’s not. In this book I’ve put together everything I’ve learned on my spiritual path to my own self-awareness as well as insights from my Reiki students and clients. I tried to write it with the intention that anyone can pick it up and read it regardless of what existing spiritual background they have. I wanted to write something that would inspire, provide clarity and practical steps that will leave the reader with a greater sense of self and wholeness.

So there you have it. My Top 10 Picks for a Hearty Spiritual Recipe. From these I hope you’ll be introduced to new topics that you’ll want to explore. Follow your heart. If something doesn’t feel right or doesn’t inspire you than leave it there and pick up something else or try it again later. Don’t force it. You’ll know when you’re on the right path because you’ll feel lighter, happier and inspired.

I’ll leave you with a few of my favorite quotes from two women that inspire me a great deal:

This week is a perfect opportunity to utilize your Reiki skills as you head off to vote this Tuesday. Remember, Reiki isn’t just about healing, it provides clarity, peace and understanding. So here are some quick tips to help you get through the week:

Before you go to the polls:

Reiki II practitioners, use the distance symbol to send to the polling location ahead of time. Add the mental/emotional symbol and set the intention that you will have a clear head and that you will vote in a way to further encourage the light of the world to shine.

Reiki I practitioners, you can set the same intentions and turn your Reiki hands on asking that Reiki be released to you when you get to the polls.

Everyone should use their visualization skills to envision who they’d like to see win and how they’d like to see the country evolve. Remember, if you feel like it’s already happening, i.e., your candidate being sworn in, then the Law of Attraction will bring that experience to you!

At the polls:

Envision a white light bubble completely surrounding you, and ask that it protect, shield and guide you during the process.

Ground your energy. Make sure you are connected to this earthly plain so you can help make sound earthly decisions. Imagine you have tree roots coming out the bottoms of your feet, securely anchoring you to the earth.

Reiki II practitioners, use the power symbol and the mental/emotional symbol over your ballot and your ballot booth. Not only will it help with your voting, but it will leave the booth you’re in filled with the same, powerful Reiki energy!

After the polls:

Picture a beautiful white light completely encompassing the United States. You can even print out a picture of the country or a something that symbolizes the United States and send Reiki to it using all three Reiki symbols and the Master symbols if you are attuned to them. I like to print out pictures, draw all my Reiki symbols on the image, turn on my Reiki hands than sit with the picture in between my hands.

If you have a crystal grid, add the United States and whatever outcome you desire into it and charge it with Reiki to give it an extra boost.

This is a very powerful and important time in our history. I pray that Reiki guides us and that we may all be filled with light, love and peace.

I wanted to share some thoughts I’ve had after being asked about receiving Reiki attunements online. A bit of background, there is a growing number of Reiki schools that have 100% online courses, including the attunement process where you receive the gift of Reiki. Traditionally this is given in person so I’ve been asked my opinion of this quite a bit lately. While I have not experienced the online attunements personally, I have heard that they work from a number of people I trust. The attunement process is a sacred process that happens between a Reiki Master and a Reiki student. The Master has the intention of passing along the gift of Reiki to the student and the student has the intention of receiving. The act itself is secondary to this. So by that theory, if the intention is there I think it is possible to receive the attunement online. Now, the tricky part. Attunements in and of themselves without the context of a class structure and a teacher to answer questions and provide a supportive environment are a dis-service to Reiki. I can not tell you how many students have taken my classes after they received an attunement only and didn’t know a thing about what Reiki was or how to use it. This I find to be inexcusable. When we are given the gift of Reiki and become Reiki Masters we become stewards of this beautiful, powerful gift. We do a great dis-service to Reiki by not sharing it’s history, it’s many facets and the techniques that have been proven successful time and time again.

So whether it’s in person or online, use your judgement and intuition. After taking a Reiki I class you should know 1) What Reiki is well enough to explain it to others 2) How to give a Reiki treatment to yourself and others 3) Where Reiki came from, it’s history and it’s legacy and 4) How it is different from other healing modalities. And you should be able to connect with a Reiki Master Teacher to continue to receive support and mentor-ship long after the class period is over. I hope this helps, please share with others if you agree. Blessings to you all!

I encounter many clients who are energy sensitives and don’t know it. Energy sensitives or clairsentients or empaths are folks that can absorb the energy around them. They are overly sensitive to crowds, loud noises, potent smells and caffeine – just to name a few. There’s a great website that outlines the many traits of a clairsentient.

Many clairsentients become overwhelmed by the world around them. They unknowingly act as sponges for energy, especially negative energy and often feel a literal weight on their shoulders as they carry around energy that’s not theirs. Because they are so sensitive to their environments their natural state is to ‘swallow’ negative energy so that it’s less volatile. This makes them feel heavy, depressed, sick, tired and they often suffer from mood swings as they pick up and carry others’ emotions.

When they come to my office I can immediately see that they are carrying energy that doesn’t belong to them. They physically feel strain and pressure on their head, neck and shoulders. Like the world is weighing down on them. They are often quiet, timid and feel victimized by the negative people and environments that surround them. What they don’t realize is that they have an incredible power to control and change their environments by using this same gift.

Clairsentients have brilliant, intense energy at their core. If they focus on the bright light within, specifically located at their solar plexus chakra or their belly button area, they can expand that light out to beyond their bodies and into the environment around them. So instead of holding the environments within they can take their inner light, visualize it expanding out and with practice can completely clear entire rooms, buildings and beyond.

This is a dynamic shift that I’ve seen with many of my clients where they turn from victim to hero and see their gift as a way to clear away negativity vs. absorbing it. They no longer shy away from harsh environments but welcome them as an opportunity to make the world a better place.

Additional tools to aid the clairsentient: black tourmaline crystals to be worn on the body, sage smoke, Archangel Michael and sea salt baths.